WHL Tri-City Americans

Home Sweet Home; Americans Claim Home-Ice with 3-1 Win

Published on March 17, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


KENNEWICK, WA - On Friday night at the Toyota Center, the Tri-City Americans did something they had not done since NHL all-star Scott Gomez donned the Tri-City crest on his sweater.

Paced by two second period goals, the Tri-City Americans (45-23-1-1, 92 pts) skated to a 3-1 victory over the rival Everett Silvertips (53-15-1-2, 109 pts) ensuring the first round of the 2007 WHL Play-offs start and, possibly end, at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. For Tri-City, the win also ties a franchise record for wins (45) and points (92) in a season, both of which were set during the 1995-96 season. With two games remaining on the schedule, the Americans can have their best season since coming to Kennewick for the 1988-89 season.

With only 47 seconds remaining in the first period, Tri-City took the 1-0 lead. Tri-City's Taylor Procyshen picked up a Jonathan Harty turnover and fed Alex Aldred who notched the first goal of the contest on Everett net minder David Reekie. For Aldred, it was his 14th goal and 52nd point of the season. In 62 games played, Aldred has quietly put together a career-season, in which he has doubled his point-output from last season.

Shortly after coming out of the first intermission, Tri-City notched an early goal to stretch their lead. Just 50 seconds into the period, Erik Felde collected a Colton Yellow Horn rebound and went top shelf over Reekie to make it a 2-0 game. For Felde, it was his second point of the night and his 22nd goal of the season. Now, with 50 points, Felde is Tri-City's highest scoring rookie skater since Jaroslav Kristek netted 86 points in the 1998-99 season.

Tri-City made it 3-0 when Colton Yellow Horn tallied his 40th goal of the season at the 10:10 mark of the second period. Off assists from T.J. Fast and Kruise Reddick, Yellow Horn collected his first goal since returning from an ankle injury that took him out of the line-up for 11 games. Yellow Horn, who has five points in his last four games, becomes Tri-City's first 40-goal scorer since Eric Johansson notched 44 goals in the 2001-02 season.

Five minutes later on the power play, Everett converted a Tri-City turnover into their only goal of the contest. The 'Tips' Dan Gendur launched a shot from the right face-off circle and place the puck top shelf, over Tri-City goaltender Carey Price's glove, to pull Everett to within two goals at 3-1. However, it stood as Price's only blemish on the night, stopping 16 of the 17 shots he faced. Meanwhile, Reekie collected 34 saves on a season-high 37 shots he saw in the game. Tri-City went 0-for-10 on the power play, while Everett was 1-for-8 on the man-advantage.

No matter what the outcome of the Americans' last two regular season games are, Tri-City knows that they will face-off against the Seattle Thunderbirds in the first round of the 2007 WHL Play-offs. That best-of-seven series will start on Friday, March 23 at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. But first, Tri-City must prepare for the archrival Spokane Chiefs, who visit the Toyota Center tomorrow, Saturday, March 17. Game time is 7:05 PM for Tri-City's regular season home-finale. You can catch all the action this Saturday, and all season long, at the Toyota Center in Kennewick as well as live on NewsTalk 870 AM. The broadcast starts with the Budweiser Warm-Up Show, which begins 15 minutes before game time. Game tickets are available through all TicketsWest outlets, including Red Lion Hotels, by calling 1-800-325-SEAT (7328), or by visiting the Americans website at www.amshockey.com.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2007


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